An Act establishing a self-defense exception
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 3/26/2026 | House | Accompanied a study order, see H5281↗ (under House Rule 27) |
| — | House | Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order |
| 10/20/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/03/2025 from 01:00 PM-09:00 PM in A-2 |
| 5/29/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/03/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on The Judiciary |
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J19 | Accompanied | — |
Subsection A of section 99 of chapter 272 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the second sentence in the third paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following:- Therefore, the secret use of such devices by private individuals must be prohibited, unless each of the following is true: (1) the individual is a party to the encounter that they are surveilling; (2) the individual is not employed by a law enforcement entity, nor acting under the auspices of one; and (3) the individual has a reasonable fear that the other party intends to physically harm them, another person, or themselves.
Subsection A of section 99 of chapter 272 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the second sentence in the third paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following:- Therefore, the secret use of such devices by private individuals must be prohibited, unless each of the following is true: (1) the individual is a party to the encounter that they are surveilling; (2) the individual is not employed by a law enforcement entity, nor acting under the auspices of one; and (3) the individual has a reasonable fear that the other party intends to physically harm them, another person, or themselves.